California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL) › Phonology and Morphology
Which of the following provides the best definition of the term: "minimal pairs"?
Sets of two words in which only one phonological element is distinct
Sets of two words in which all but one phonological element are distinct
Sets of three words in which only one phonological element is distinct
Sets of two words in which only one morphological element is distinct
The first key to answering this question was to know that "minimal pairs" are a tool for teaching phonology to students. Knowing this, and that "pairs" are sets of two, one simply had to know that the "minimal" aspect of the "pair" for teaching purpose is a phonological DIFFERENCE between the words. One distinct element being different helps to establish that element to students.